Lone duck

In the beginning 

It was an accidental inclusion 

Dropped in amongst eggs

Of a different variety 

And the only survivor 

In the fraught craft of mechanical incubation 

 

Solitary duck

Observant and skittish

Stinking to high heaven

It grew from a delicate duckling,

All feet and fluff

To sleek and slender

Gloss and glamour

With its long, proud neck, and tail with pout

 

Sum duck

Delighting in water, its soul sister

Diving

Paddling 

Splashing 

Preening

Rifling around 

Probing depths

Intent on full immersion

Or by full bodied torpedo

Over the surface shooting.

In full throttled exuberance 

All of it

A mesmerised devotion to this liquid encounter

 

Singular duck

We warn:

It is not to be followed 

For that incites fear, alarm and wild flight

But, rather, to be watched, 

Still

And by doing, will cautiously approach

In an open-minded curiosity 

A little closer

Pause 

A little closer still

 

Inimitable duck

With head tilting in polite inquiry

And eyes taking full measure 

A checking, a considering, perhaps too, a faint remembering - of early days and tender keeping - 

Here now, a quiet moment of meeting

An act of gentle grace

The space between -

This wild, winged creature 

And an otherwise rushed and harried human -

Waiting to be found 

 

Post script

Expectant duck

Is wholly unaware that another row

Or two

Of eggs lie warm

And perhaps might soon become companions, 

Each all

Feathered

And beaked

Fostering a society of a more mutual sort

I conjure visions of harmony through aquatic delight.

I hope.

For I fear that, by time and measure, 

It standing alone

Has established invisible markers

That may keep it

From forging bonds

In feathered fellowship